The EU strongly regrets the ratification of the 2019 Türkiye-Libya “Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea” by Libya’s House of Representatives on 20 October 2026.
The EU position regarding the MoU is firm and clear. As outlined in the European Council Conclusions of December 2019 and reiterated in June 2025, the Türkiye-Libya Memorandum of Understanding infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States and does not comply with the Law of the Sea. It is null and void and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States.
The EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and urges all countries to respect the sovereign rights of all Member States, in accordance with EU and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
October 21, 2026